Wanda Sykes: I'm Proud To Be Gay!

The New Adventures of Old Christine star Wanda Sykes is speaking about about being gay because of the passage of a same-sex marriage ban in California. Here’s what the 44-year-old comedian told a crowd at a gay rights rally in Las Vegas on Saturday:

“[After Barack Obama was elected,] I thought, man we are moving in the right direction. And then at about 11 o’clock I was crushed. We took a huge leap forward and then got dragged 12 feet back. I felt like I was being attacked, personally attacked, our community was attacked. I got married Oct. 25, I don’t really talk about my sexual orientation, I felt like I was living my life, I wasn’t in the closet, but I was just living my life. Everybody who knows me personally, they know I’m gay. And that’s the way people should be able to live our lives, really. We shouldn’t have to be standing out here demanding something we automatically should have as citizens of this country. … They pissed off the wrong group of people. They have galvanized a community. We are so together now and we all want the same thing and we shouldn’t have to settle for less. Instead of having gay marriage in California, no, we’re gonna have gay marriage across the country. When my wife and I leave California, I want to have my marriage also recognized in Nevada, in Arizona, all the way to New York. … I’m proud to be a woman, I’m proud to be a black woman and I’m proud to be gay.”

I kinda feel like she is milking and using the race, gender and gay card for her own gain!

Rapidfire

Didn’t know she was gay, now I don’t like her half as much….takes away a lot of the sex appeal. I know a lot of guys that think she is quirky and sexy but not if she’s a dyke.

Ouch!

Jared, ur readers are disgusting! LOL

http://popitunes-mighty.blogspot.com/ Popitunes

good for her for speaking out.

LolaMonroe

Well said, Wanda!

aeon

I’m proud of you too Wanda. Equal rights for all, yeah.

t

Good for her, that’s a hard thing to do in a world still full of hate, and a helpful thing for others to see her out there.

sillyme

Why do people keep acting like Obama’s election is supposed to make people more tolerant of gays. There’s absolutely no connection and no reason to think that. It was because of higher than usual turnouts in the black community that Obama won many states, and most blacks are homophobic and see gay marriage as a sin against god. That’s never going to change. Obama’s election had nothing to do about tolerance. And, the gays are acting like a bunch of babies. You lost get it over. This does not compare with blacks and the civil rights movement. If you think so, then show me where gays were being lynched, or forced to use separate water fountains than hetero’s, sit in the back of buses, and other indignities that blacks in this country were forced to suffer.

Amanda

I don’t understand why this is even an issue? Why do people care so much what other people are doing?

If you want to get upset about something, how about Mormons who practice polygamy?

non-impressed

amanda what you just said is a total hypocrite statement. you don’t care about what the gay people are doing but dear god you can judge the mormon polygamists. how does that make any sense.

jay

“Why do people keep acting like Obama’s election is supposed to make people more tolerant of gays”…..

I think people were hoping that by electing a black man this country had moved forward to look past it prejudices. As Wanda said this smacked people back in place.

I love how people with all the rights and have not been oppressed in some why keep telling folks to “get over it”. Maybe you should get over it and let gay people get married.

Nico

sillyme, Wanda said that because i guess in your country having a black president was like some huge, something that country has never seen before…because of all the discrimination they received a long time ago. And wanda was like “oh, america accepted a black presiden, maybe now america will accept gay people”…. but that was not the case.
It’s weird actually why you can’t accept it after a lot of country did. Here in Argentina, gay people can get married,

Nico

sillyme, Wanda said that because i guess in your country having a black president was like something huge, something that country has never seen before…because of all the discrimination they received a long time ago. And wanda was like “oh, america accepted a black president, maybe now america will accept gay people”…. but that was not the case.
It’s actually weird why you can’t accept it after a lot of countries did. Here in Argentina, gay people can get married,

tony

If you are unfamiliar with lynchings and murders and so forth… you have deliberately hidden from the news and from the use of the internet you chose to use in order to make the Civil Rights movement the sole territory of the Blacks. If you studied enough you would find that Martin Luther King Jr had men who were gay working right with him at the top of HIS movement. Too bad there is no recognition of that by those same people who choose to make it a turf battle. … Perhaps you never heard of Matthew Shepard? Perhaps you have not heard of deaths in the military totally related to this issue? Perhaps you are unaware that just in the past week a man was arrested in California after murdering 2 gay men in Indianapolis? And, is it really too much of a jump for you that such crimes are not heard of because just as with Blacks many years ago…it is not even considered by many police, is not considered a ‘hate crime’ in most states of the Union, and isn’t it odd that Blacks weren’t permitted to marry at one time in this country (as a way of controlling them as well), and now the same is happening to Gays? — And sad that you say that Blacks would be responsible for that type of subjugation. —And, I guess you might think it is okay that sexual orientation can be used as a reason to fire/not hire because it is protected discrimination in most every state and there is no federal mandate that bans it? And, I personally know of people that have lost jobs only because they were gay. (And before you challenge that… know that I am one of them and almost a year later had a legal decision that said I deserved compensation due to an inappropriate termination without cause. — Since then, it has been legislated that it is okay to terminate if someone is gay (by virtue of outlawing it failing. That has been used in legal decisions to support that the legislature’s intent said it was okay. —That is one state too many.) — So perhaps, the prejudice needs some self-examination by your post and several others here.

pup

errr…..don’t ppl know that obama does not support same sex marriage?? ppl have so many misconceptions. maybe if they actually followed or read things he wanted for this country instead of getting it second hand, we would have a different person leading this country.

Teri

I love her in New Christine, she’s so hilarious.

;

why do you want to get married
just put a ring on and pretend
i have no problem with gays at all but its not what god intended

:)

guest

GROSS!

BECKY SMITH

Why not get the first pregnant man to show up at the rallies… Since
annoucing that they are having a second child..

BECKY SMITH

Why not get the first pregnant man to show up at the rallies… Since
annoucing that they are having a second child..

andrea

I was married in a catholic church and I had to wait a year and take many many classes to get married and I believe that gay people should have the right to get married!! My religion has NO business being in the lives of others. I really do believe that this is a civil rights issue because people are basically telling other people they can’t do something because of who they are. That shit doesn’t make any sense!

andrea

you can not single out a group of individuals and tell them they have limited rights while another groups are free to do as they wish!

mju8

Decades ago people didn’t think Black people should get the same rights as White people. They were proven wrong.
Nowadays, people don’t think Gay and lesbians should be afforded the same rights as White, Black and every other race of people. I thing society will look back in a couple more years and feel the same thing – that they were wrong at the time.

LolaSvelt

I never knew she was gay. Then again, I’ve only seen her in Monster-in-Law, and she’s one of the only decent things about that film.

alania

I see similar discrimination in the gay community as there was in the Black community, only it takes a different form.
Gay people still get bashed up or even murdered for being who they are, they still get derogatory names put on their heads, they aren’t allowed to marry, aren’t allowed to adopt kids, etc.

No to gay marriage

Just because our liberal society is embracing gays all of a sudden doesn’t make it right. It’s always been wrong and that will never change. Stop trying to force our government and Christians to endorse your gay relationships by formalizing them with a marriage certificate. Keep your gay relationships behind closed doors. The next thing you know, pedophiles will be demanding equal rights.

alania

^^ It absolutely astounds me that you could equate gay people with pedophiles. Just shows your complete ignorance and bigotry

No to gay marriage

To “alania”, LOL, first of all, I didn’t equate gay people to pedophiles. I’m just sick of gays wanting society to turn the other way when what they are doing is wrong. They can be gay if they want to, but it reaches a whole new level when they want marriage certificates. It’s just wrong. We can all speak our minds.

BECKY SMITH

We had this already Rosie O Donnell was the first to marry her girlfriend the first time around.. a long time ago.. and now that it
came back..why bother bringing it back.. do us all a favor and
just put an end to this… It is no ones business what they do and
not do.. Is it going to make a third round.. again.. yes will will give
you what you want.. but we will later pull the rug from under you..

Jessica

Good for you, Wanda! The passage of Prop 8 (and several other anti-gay laws in other states) showed that, despite how far we’ve come, we still have a ways to go.

alania

To “No to gay marriage”, well you pretty much thought equal rights for gay people was as outlandish as equal rights for pedophiles, which is ridiculous so yeah you kind of did equate the two.
Oh, and I never said you couldn’t speak your mind, but would it kill you to open your mind up a bit more?

Tricia

Uh, #27, have you ever heard of a little thing in the United States constitution that mandates THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE? You don’t have to accept gay relationships or endorse them, but that doesn’t make it right to LEGALLY DISCRIMINATE against gay relationships!

tessla

Duh……like we didn’t know she was gay for ages. What is it? A new movie coming out and she needs PR.

REbekkah

It’s not the same thing. Racial discrimination is based on what you are. Sexual discrimination is based on what you do. Blacks don’t have the luxury of choosing when to “come out.” Be happy with your civil partnerships and move on.

jet’ aime a:)

EW GAY

Jake

The Banning of Gay Marriage was a bill issue, not a civil rights issue. Gay people already have many rights that protect them.The definition of marriage has always been between a man and a woman. If gays want the same rights as marriage then they already have civil unions. Why must a straight couples title matter to them anyway. Marriage is something that inherently belongs to straight couples. Gay peoples lifestyle has been tolerated by many states. If they want to imitate straight couples, then at least be unique and create something of your own. Marriage has been patented by straight couples a long time ago. I would suggest that the gay fanatics here to go spend their time creating something of their own and instead of point fingers and blaming others. Useless Mass protests, bullying and coercion isnt going to change the publics opionion on marriage. Its the people will and not of celebrities. We give too much credit to celebrities. The people rule at the end of the day. What gives gay people the right to redifine marraige anyway. Gay people have intellectual right to this and Californians have agreed. Gay people have everything in L.A, looks, money, style, but they want more, why cant you guys be big people and leave straight what has been historically theirs.

djd

You tell them Wnda. I don’t understand why it is anyone’s business whether gay people want to marry or not. It really shouldn’t be up to some stupid law. Gay marriage shouldn’t be illegal anywhere in this earth. & neither should cocaine:)

Yvette

How about a one way ticket Massachusetts. Bye bye!!!

GOOD VICTORIA

WELL STATED ..” TONY “….. AND ,,,” ALANIA “….everyone has the right to be happy…Gay OR not….Just ” putting on a ring “, and ” what does it matter “, does NOT solve the problem…and it should matter to all of us, and most importantly the Gay community….I have been happily married to the same man for 35 years, and I’m a practicing Roman Catholic….NO, I do NOT believe in EVERYTHING, that my church preaches or old and outdated Vatican rules, BUT I still love the church and all who attend there….including some Gays who are our dearest friends……
I have met Baptists and Presbyterian’s who did NOT agree with all the rules or preachings of their church also, but all in all, that is still their church……..God LOVES us ALL!!!!!!!!!!!

LuckyL

Lol at some of the fools on this site

Sara

I think whoever said ALL blacks hate gays should speak for themselves and not every black person. I am black and straight and I dont hate gay people or feel they should not have the same rights as everyone. Its funny coz I bet most of the hypocrites denying gay people equal rights to get married dont even believe in the sanctimony of marriage. Heck take a look at the divorce rate. It boggles my mind how some must feel they are above others because denying someone equal rights is basically saying I am better than you. You might not personally agree with gay relationships but if it does not affect you then what does it matter if they get married. I dont believe in polygamy but if someone wants to marry multiple partners then as long as the person is of age and wants the same things as the other person then its not my problem. I dont think the racial discrimination suffered by blacks is the same as the prop 8 issue but I do think prop 8 is discrimnation and ANY kind of discrimination is wrong and you would think in 2008 we are a more tolerant and accepting society. I wish all gay and lesbian couples luck and hope they win this fight in getting equal rights on the marriage issue.

Jill

andrea @ 11/16/2008 at 12:35 pm
My religion has NO business being in the lives of others. I really do believe that this is a civil rights issue because people are basically telling other people they can’t do something because of who they are. That **** doesn’t make any sense!
***********************************************************************************************

Excellent post. I’m Catholic also and I totally agree.

Jill

Will somebody please explain to me how letting gay people get married is going to destroy the “sanctity of marriage”? And please don’t trot out that tired gays-can’t-have-children argument. If children are the basis for sanctifying marriage, then every childless man/woman marriage is invalid.

sueli

“errr…..don’t ppl know that obama does not support same sex marriage?? ppl have so many misconceptions. maybe if they actually followed or read things he wanted for this country instead of getting it second hand, we would have a different person leading this country.”

Perhaps you should read/listen to what he actually said. He doesn’t personally support it but gays, lesbians, transgendered, et al SHOULD have equal rights [which would include the right to marry, work, etc.]

john

Gay people can already marry in california. Get over it! prop 8 passed boo hoo! no republicans here are complaining about mccain losing

sueli

If marriage is only something that can be accepted if the church [whichever church that is] accepts it, then those who are not marrying in a church should not be allowed to have a marriage license, but a civil union and the rights [not the same provided with a marriage license] that come with it.

Also, pedophiles do have the right to marry or do you people who equate homosexuality with pedophilia ignore that.

amber

why is everyone gay these days? honestly, it’s like a trend or something.
weirdddd.

TWPUMPKIN

WE VOTED AGAINST GAY MARRIAGE. GET OVER IT. JUST BECAUSE IT DID NOT TURN OUT IN YOUR FAVOR YOU THINK WE SHOULD OVERTURN IT?! I VOTED AGAINST OBAMA AND HE WON. THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED VOTING YOU IDIOTS! MOVE ON!!!!!! THESE HETROSEXUAL CELEBRITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE PROTESTING DO NOT GIVE A RATS ASS. THEY JUST WANT THE PRESS. THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN SO SHUT UP AND MOVE ON.

TWPUMPKIN

I FEEL THAT GAY COUPLES SHOULD HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS A MARRIED HETROSEXUAL COUPLE BUT CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE. LEAVE “MARRIAGE ALONE” IT IS ONE OF THE FEW THINGS WE BORING FOLKS HAVE LEFT. WHATS NEXT….MARRY YOUR SISTER….MARRY YOUR DOG. COME ON PEOPLE! HOW FUNNY GAY PEOPLE FEEL CHEATED BUT THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND SUPPORT ABORTION. MAYBE THE FETUS FEELS CHEATED TO.